BOE seeks $64M more than Lingle requested

Star-Bulletin staff

The state Board of Education will appeal directly to lawmakers for $64 million more for public schools next year than Gov. Linda Lingle put in her budget proposal.

Lingle's proposal, released Monday, would give the Board of Education less than a third of the $94 million in supplemental funds it requested for 2006-07, school board Chairman Randall Yee said yesterday.

According a Board of Education news release, some differences between its budget request and Lingle's proposal include:

» Conversion to one school calendar: When all schools shift to a July start date in 2006, the state will be responsible for additional pay periods for teachers and staff costing $24.4 million. The governor's budget has no funding for this cost.

» Electricity: The board projects the need for $16 million more to cover rising electricity costs and $5 million more to cover running donated air conditioners. The governor proposes $5.4 million, a gap of $15.6 million.

» Principals and technology: Performance incentives for principals ($5 million) and an improved information system ($5 million) are not included in Lingle's budget.

» Special education: The board wants $8.4 million to pay special education staff. The governor offers $4.3 million.